The Galileo was assigned to the original
USS Enterprise NCC-1701. Its capabilities were limited, but
the shuttle could provide a useful alternative to the transporters.

The Galileo was one of several shuttlecraft assigned to the Enterprise. It was designed for relatively
short-range journeys, and was suitable for scientific missions, reconnaissance, and personnel
transportation.

The Galileo could be piloted by a single officer, though in ideal circumstances two officers would fly
the shuttle together. If necessary, it could accommodate up to seven crew members. Shuttlecraft such as
the Galileo were only suitable for relatively short journeys, as they carried a limited amount of fuel.
Their use was limited mainly to travel within star systems or for transport between deep space vessels
and planetary surfaces. Typical assignments included transporting diplomats to an from a planet's
surface. The Galileo was designed to enter a planet's atmosphere, and was equally capable of landing on
difficult terrain or in the shuttlebay located at the rear of the Enterprise's engineering hull. The
Galileo carried the basic tools needed for survival on an alien planet, including a medical kit and
universal translator. A supply of standard issue Type 2 pistol phasers was also kept in an armory
locker drawer. In the even of the shuttle being damaged, it was possible to adapt the phasers to act as
a substitute power supply, but this was a dangerous procedure.

The Galileo had several important design flaws. Its communications system was extremely susceptible to
ionic interferences, and the shielding provided its circuits with only limited protection from radiation
damage.